Egg tray



' 'March 31. 1925.

H. S. BAKER EGG TRAY Filed Aug. 6. 1924 Lu m INVENTOR AI IORNEY Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

nocsnron s. BAKER, HUGO OKLAHOMA; 1

EGG TRAY.-

Application filed August 6, 1924'. Serial No. 730,512:

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, I-Ions'roN S. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hugo, in the county of Choctaw andState of Oklahoma, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Egg Trays, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to egg trays, for use in incubators, and has for its object the provision of a novel sectional tray adapted to hold eggs during incubation, the intention being that the sections be engaged and fastened so that the eggs may be turned at such intervals as are necessary, all being turned at the same time instead of singly as when the work is done by hand.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character which embodies various improved structural details whereby it will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, efficient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of one section with the auxiliary tray or filler in place.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1., and showing all sections assembled.

Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section,sho\ving the sections assembled.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown my tray as comprising two sections designated broadly by the numeral 10. These sections are similar and each consists of a rectangular frame 11 of suitable size and material covered at one side by wire screen 12. Each section is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending strips 18 which hold the wire screen in place so as to prevent bulging thereof. Fitting within these frames and engaging the screen is an auxiliary tray or filler 9 of rectangular form, designed to p-revent the eggs from being squeezed or compressed.

The sections are capable of disposition in face to face relation against the auxiliary tray or tiller 9 as shown'in Figures 2, 3 and 45. On the confronting faces of the filler 9 are cleats 14 against selected ones of which is disposable a partition 15 which is thus adjustable to prevent rolling about of the eggs remaining after the removal of the sterile ones from time to time.

Each side of each section or frame 11: carries a dowel pin received within a corresponding. socket 17 inthe other frame so as to facilitate registration of the frames or sections and to prevent displacement of one with respect to the other. Washers 18 may be provided which are interposed between the frames or sections to avoid bringing the two wire screens too firmly into contact with the eggs.

For holding the two sections together, I provide catch devices which are formed as strips or links 19 pivoted at 20 and having a plurality of slots 21 engageable upon bolts, screws, or the like 22. There is one catch device on each end of each section engageable with a screw or the like on the corresponding end of the other section. By providing a series or plurality of slots it is evident that the sections may be adjusted according to the size of the eggs.

Assuming that the sections are held together and are located within the incubator, it is obvious that when turning of the eggs is necessary, the tray consisting of the assembled sections may be easily taken from the incubator, inverted and reinserted. If only one section is being used and it is desired to turn the eggs, the section in use is withdrawn from the incubator, the other section is placed over it,

the catches 19 engaged, the assembled device then turned over, and the lowermost section removed, after which the remaining section is inserted within the incubator.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of the invention it is to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the construction and arrangement as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. An egg tray comprising a pair of similar sections each including a frame having one side covered with wire screen, a filler fitting between the sections, means on both frames adapted for inter-engagement for holding them in registration and in face to face relation, and catch means securing the frames together.

2. An egg tray comprising a pair of simi lar sections each including a frame having one side covered with wire screen, a filler fitting within and between the frames, means on both frames adapted for interengagement for holding them in registra' tion and in face to face relation, and catch means securing the frames together, formed as elongated strips pivoted on the ends of the frames and formed with slots, and headed elements on the ends of the frames received within the slots.

3. An egg tray comprising a pair of similar sections each including a frame having one side covered with wire screen, a filler fitting within the frames and having an adjustable partition, means on both frames adapted for inter-engagement for holding them in registration and in face to face relation, and catch means securing the frames together, said first named means consisting of dowel pins projecting from the sides of the frames, the sides being formed with sockets receiving the pins.

4:. An egg tray comprising a pair of similar sections each including a frame having one side covered with screen, means on both frames adapted for inter-engagement for holding them in registration and in face to face relation, and catch means securing the frames together, formed as elongated strips pivoted on the ends of the frames and formed with slots, and headed elements on the ends of the frames received within the slots; the strips each having a plurality of slots whereby the sections may be adjusted toward or from each other according to the size of the eggs used.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HOUSTON S. BAKER. 

